Locking device



Sept. 9, 1924. 1,507,984

L. A. BORNE LOCKING DEVICE fl-wwswt. 1o 1923 I Patented Sept. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES LOUIS A. Boa-NE, or MILWAUKEE, wrscoivsm.

LQCKIN G DEVICE.

Application filed september 10, 1923. Serial No. 661,979.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, Lotus A. BoRNE, citizenof the United States, residing. at lllilwaukee, in the county ofMilwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Looking Devices, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improve ments in locking devices andhas relation more particularly to a device of this general characterespecially designed and adapted for use in connection with the driveshaft of an automobile or the like and 1t is an.

object of the invention to provide a device of this general characterhaving novel and improved means whereby the same can be employed withequal advantage to hold the shaft against rotation in either direction;

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and'improveddevice of this general character comprising two relatlvely movablemembers, each provlded with means whereby the movement of one of saidmembers toward the other will engage the shaft in a manner to hold saidshaft against rotation.

The invention consists in the detailsof construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved lockingdevice whereby certain important advantages are attained and the devicerendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient andadvantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. I

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawins, wherein Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in sectionillustrating a locking de vice constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in applied position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating further details ofconstruction as herein disclosed;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in top plan of the device as illustratedin Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly insectioniillustrating a slightly modified form of the invention.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a cross membercarried by the frame of, an automobile or otherwise supported andthrough which crossmember 1 is disposed the drive shaft S. ,WVhenemployed ,in connection with an automobile, the member 1 is positionedin relatively close proximity to the universal joint generallyassociated with the drive or propelling shaft. My improved lockingdevice comprises two membersi) and 3 extending across the shaft S atopposite sides thereof and preferably above and below the shaft.Adjacent ends of the members 2 and 3 are pivotally'connected by a boltt, said bolt being carried by the cross member 1 whereby the lockingdevice is maintained in applied position.

Opposed faces of the'members 2 and are provided with the arcuaterecesses 5 substantially conforming to the peripheral curvature of theshaft S and eachof said recesses 5 has in communication therewith thepockets 6 the bas walls of which being inclined as at a downwardly in adirection away from the associated shaft S and toward the center of saidpocket.

' In practice, I find itof advantage to provide one of the members 3with two of the .arcuate slot 10 provided in aside plate 11.

A side plate 11 is secured. as at 12 to each side of the members 2whereby the rollers 7 are maintainediu effective position.

Each of the rollers 7 is of a diameter to substantially bridge the spacebetween the periphery of the shaft and the meeting portions of theinclined faces a offthe pockets 6. a

The end portions of each of the members 9 and 3 remote from the pivotalmounting 44am providedwith the extensions 14 provided with registeringopenings 15. .The inner portions of the openings 15 are enlarged at 16,as is also the outer portion as at 17 of the upper member 2-. The enlarged portion 17 of the upper member 2 is angular in plane and isadapted to snugly receive a nut 18 whereby said nut is maintainedagainst rotation. Extending outwardly from the cross member 1 is a lug19 through which is disposed from below a bolt 20 freely extendingthrough the openings 15 in the extension 14: of the lower section 2,said bolt 20 below said extension having secured thereto a collar 21whereby an effective support is provided for a portion of thelowersection 3 remote from the pivotal mounting t. In threadedengagement with the nut 18 is the lower end of a vertically disposedoperating rod 22 and which rod when the device is employed in connectionwith an automobile has its upper end portion adapted to extend withinthe body of the automobile and terminate in a position of convenientaccess by an occupant of the vehicle.

Upon rotating the rod 22 in one direction the sections 2 will be forced,by the nut 18, one toward the other resulting in the rollers 7 beingbrought into frictional contact with the shaft S and upon rotation ofthe shaft to in either direction the rollers T willlravel upon theinclined faces a resulting in a wedge action effecting a locking of theshaft S.

In the embodiment of my invention as illustrated in Figure 4 the shaft Sis provided in its periphery with the pockets 6 having their base wallsinclined as at a while the faces of the members 2 and 3 adjacent to theshaft S are unobstructed. The rollers 7 within the pockets 6 uponmovement of the members 2 and 3' one toward the other through theinstrumentality of the inclined faces 0- will have requisite wedgingaction against the members 2 to hold the shaft r against turningmovement.

From the foregoing description it thought to be obvious that a lockingdevice constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly welladapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which itmay be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that myinveir tion is susceptible of some change and modification withoutdeparting from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason Ido not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precisearrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carryingout my invention in practice cept as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In combination with a Shaft, members extending acrossopposite sides of the shaft, means for supporting said members forrelative swinging movement one toward the other, means for moving saidmembers one toward the other, and wedging means carried by the membersfor coaction with the shaft upon movement of the members one toward theother.

2. In combination with a shaft, members extending across the shaft atopposite points, means for supporting said members for movement onetoward the other, the opposed faces of said members being provided withpockets, the base walls of the pockets having faces inclined toward thecenter thereof and in a direction away from the shaft, rollers mountedwithin said pockets, and means for moving the men'ibers one toward theother to bring the rollers into contact with the shaft.

3. In ccmbination with a shaft, members extending across opposite sidesof the shaft, means for supporting said members for relative swingingmovement one toward the other, ineang'for moving said members one towardthe other, w dging means carried by the members for coaction with theshaft upon movement of the members one toward the other, supportingmeans for one end portion of one of the members remote from its pivotalmounting, and means coasting with the second member for moving the same.relative to the first member.

in combination with shaft, members extending across opposite sides ofthe shaft, means for supporting said members for relative swingingmovement one toward the other, means for moving said members one;

toward the other, wedging means carried by the members for coaction withthe shaft upon movement of the members one toward the other, supportingmeans for one end portion of one of the members remote from its pivotalmounting, said second member being provided with a recess, a nut seatedwithin said recess, said recess and nut having coacting means forholding the nut against rotation, and a rod threaded through the nut.said nut upon rotation of the rod in one diration moving the coactingmember toward the second member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

LOUIS A. HORSE.

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